Natural gas costs increase

Lower prices through increased competition was one selling point that state officials used for natural gas deregulation.

So far, some consumers have yet to see the benefit on their monthly bills.

Several natural gas marketers have raised rates this month in response to increased wholesale prices.

Officials attribute the increase to electric utilities depleting reserves by cranking up gas-powered generators to meet their own customers' demand. It has been years since summer commodity prices have been this high, marketers say.

"Where we buy the gas in Louisiana and Texas, it's gone up tremendously over the past couple of months," said Infinite Energy President Darin Cook.

Retail prices tend to rise in step with wholesale prices, just as an increase in crude oil prices translates into higher prices at gas pump.

Infinite's rate went from 44 cents per therm to 46 cents per therm. Infinite customers who signed one-year contracts before the July 23 price increase are guaranteed the lower rate.

(Total bill includes all charges except taxes. Some company bills may actually be lower because of special sales not included in this comparison.

Base charges are fixed costs AGL passes on to the gas marketers. The base charges vary because some marketers offer discounts or bundle in other fees.

Fixed charges such as billing fees and customer service fees are sometimes broken out of a company's base charges. However, those fees have been bundled for this comparison.

Cents per therm rates have been rounded up to the nearest tenth where applicable. Gas charges not based on consumption, such as interstate pipeline charges, can also be broken out and itemized. Those charges are noted in this comparison but have been bundled into total gas charges where applicable.)